On 11 October 2011, the FRA will reveal its findings on the barriers that migrants in an irregular situation face when accessing healthcare. The findings are part of a new FRA report on "Migrants in an irregular situation: access to healthcare in 10 European Member States". This report documents the legal, economic and practical obstacles that hinder irregular migrants' access to healthcare. The report looks specifically into healthcare for mothers and children (in particular immunisations), mental healthcare and care for chronic diseases. The results were based on desk research and interviews with migrants, healthcare providers, public authorities and civil society. This report forms part of a bigger agency project about the access to rights and services for irregular migrants, people who live in the EU without fulfilling the legal conditions for entry, stay or residence.

Check out some photos from the Freedom Drive held in Strasbourg on 14 September. The Freedom Drive is organised by the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) and has taken place every two years since 2003.

On 29 September 2011, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights launched its report ‘Respect for and protection of persons belonging to minorities: 2008-2010’ as part of the 5th Warsaw Seminar on Human Rights organised by the Polish EU Presidency between 29 September and 1 October 2011. The report was drafted at the request of the European Parliament and deals with people belonging to ethnic, linguistic, national and other minorities. It draws on information collected from 2008-2010 and provides an overview of recent EU initiatives as well as the changes introduced after the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force in 2009 which gives unprecedented prominence to protecting minorities.

The FRA disability project, aims to better understand how the fundamental rights of persons with mental health problems and persons with intellectual disabilities are safeguarded in the EU and where violations of rights occur. To better explain what the agency is doing in this area, the FRA has developed a series of easy-to-understand information products. View the overview of FRA publications on disability.

On 15-16 September, the agency hosted one of its bi-annual meetings with its National Liaison Officers (NLOs). The purpose of the meeting was to generate ideas and support from NLOs to enhance the agency’s impact with Member States and national target audiences.

On 22 September over 300 participants from 34 countries gathered in Strasbourg to set up a coalition of cities and regions that aims to improve the situation of Europe's 10-12 million Roma and Travellers. The FRA experts, Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos and Eva Sobotka, spoke at the event, organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.